The Great Management Development Conundrum - Individual Development Vs Workplace Reality By Leon Noone

The Promise

The 20th Century promised success to the conscientious, dedicated, persistent and focussed individual. If you had a "vision" too, your success was just then a matter of time.

Any number of role models were proof positive that the promise was within your grasp. And many of the role models evolved from deprived or at least modest personal circumstances.

The Reality

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with The Promise. It's attractive and realistic. But in the corporate world where most of us dwell, it's incomplete. In the corporation it's simply not enough to be a brilliant individual. The greatest rewards go to the most effective team member.

The Social Manager

Corporations are made up of individuals. But they are all organized into teams. The more successful you are in the corporation, the more your success is dependent on your team effectiveness. A senior manager is a social manager. He or she is a member of a number of teams and the leader of at least one team.

In a large corporation, a senior manager may be a leader or member of teams outside his or her own department and represent their corporation in external terms.

Everyone's Involved

Teams exist for the lowest paid to the highest. Even in an organization of only one person, that person has relationships with customers, suppliers and similar businesses. While no formal team structure exists the person still needs some team membership skills.

The Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills will always be important in the workplace. But they are different to team membership skills. Good interpersonal skills will enhance the use of team membership skills. But they are not the same.

Team Membership Skills

The skills involve negotiating and gaining agreement between team members about

• Team goals


• Team roles and relationships


• Team systems and procedures


• Team participation


• Team changes


• Team rewards


• Team leadership

The organization structure will dictate how well developed the team skills need to be.

Conclusion

The world may be your oyster. You may be able to achieve difficult personal goals. But if you want to succeed in an organization you'll need team leadership and membership skills too. It's not enough to be visionary. You must be able to induce others to join you and allow them to share your vision and commit to it.

We should ensure that this reality is widely recognized.